Fire extinguisher



May 3, 1932- J. MARTIN FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Dec. 13 1928 3Sheets-Sheet FMS/BLE JU /v /VA//e r//v J. MARTIN FIRE EXTINGUISHER May3, 1932.

'Filed Dec. 13 1928 3 SheecS-Sheel'I 2 -iszaarszzpy'Il'IIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIA l l l l l l l l I l l l l l Il I l //7 Vmro@ rfeam Marn@ I9/ Mfg 47m/ffy J. MARTIN FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Dec.l5 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 3.,'1932.

Patented May 3, 1932 A UNITED STAT-Es .PATENT ,OFFICE y JEAN MARTIN, OFST. .UEN, FRANCE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Application led Decemb'i'enl, 1928,Serial No. 325,873, and in France December 16, 1927.

This invention has for .its object adevice for thel remote control of reextinguishers, particularly on board of airplanes or other flyingmachines and, generally, on board of vehicles or in plants where a re islikely to break out. y

The improved device is arranged in such manner that the release of theextinguisher may take place:

(xa) Either automatically, through the me ting of one or more fuses,under the action of a rise in temperature; or

- (b) Directly by hand, without, however, releasing the above automaticoperating mechanism. A spring release device allows,

' alternatively, to stop the lire extinguisher, and to set it again inoperation, whether the release thereof occurred automatically or byhand.

Moreover, the invention covers an embodiment of a particular method ofmounting the fuses. The appended drawings show, by way of example, anembodiment-of the control device, the general features of which havejust been given.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of said control device;

Fig. 2 a vertical section of a lire extinguisher of known type actuatedby the said device;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a fuse used in connection with the device inquestion;

Fig. 4 is a face view of an indicator plate forming part of thecontroller;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the above-mentioned fuse;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of another form of fuse, and

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show various ways of mounting the fuses.

It is to be understood at theoutset that the controller illustrated inFig. 1 operates automatically in connection with the fuse mecha- 'i nismor device represented in Fig. 3, and itself operates to actuate the tireextinguisher shown in Fig. 2: it being assumed that the Bowdenconnection of Fig. 2 forms part of the connection J of Fig. 1 and, inlike manner, the Bowden connection I also forms part of theconnectionshown in Fig. 3. The ,connections in question are assumed tobe of indefinite length, the control portions thereof being broken away;but in practice the two parts indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 will be bridgedor united, and the same with respect ofthe two parts indicated in Figs.1 and 3.

As to the fire extinguisher, which is generally designated X, thiselement or device, as already stated, is of known type and operates inknown manner, and it forms, in itself, no part of the actual invention,so that its structural details are immaterial and need not be described.It is believed to be sulii cient tor all present purposes, that when thecontroller is actuated either automatically or by hand, in the mannerhereinafter explained, the action thereby exerted upon the aforesaidBowden connection J (Fig. l), will be transmitted to the controllinglever X ofthe extinguisher X and will actuate the same.

It must be understood, moreover, that while the improved controller isdesigned primarily for application vto a fire extinguisher of suitabletype, that is not its only use. In place of being applied to a fireextinguisher, it can be connected with other apparatus or devices to beoperated consequent upon an abnormal temperature-rise.

The control device comprises a tubular, e. g. cvlindrical body A(Fig. 1) in which is movably housed a piston provided with afrusto-conical portion C', having a reduced portion Y forming a shoulderC, against which rests one end of a helical spring E, the other end ofwhich rests against the bottom of a tubular part A screwed to member A.This spring surrounds the cylindrical part Y above mentioned. Theportion C is also formed with a flattened surface or part K which may bebrought into registering relation with ball D by turning piston B aboutits axis. f

lfnto groove C projects a ball D which prevents spring E from expandingwhen piston B is cocked-that is, is subjected to the action -ot saidspring. This ball is maintained in its position in groove C by theaction of an auxiliary piston F working in an additional Oil hollowcylinder G at the side of and communicating with cylinder A.. Saidpiston F, which is under the action of a spring H, is provided with agroove 2 which permits the i all to move from groove C into groove 2 Theinitial position of operation (automatic, manual or stop) is controlledby al handle L and a bayonet joint, the slot of which is located in thefixed body A, while the pin M is secured to the piston B. The said pin Mcarries a pointer N which `moves in front of an indicating plate formedby the rir'n Z of body A and bearing the words Start, Stop and Norma-l.Moreover, in a seat or opening provided in plate Z is a disk O which isnormally kept concealed by a movable member P that is dislodged by thepiston F when the fuse melts. The shutter P is hinged to the body A. andis kept closed in.normal position by means of a spring or wedge member.In the active position, when the fuses melt, the piston dislodges theshutter P against the force of the spring or the wedge member and bringsthe disk O into view; When the members are replaced into rest position,the fuses are replaced and the piston F goes back to itsoriginal-position.

- The shutter P is then returned either by the spring or manually byhand and kept in place by means of the wedge member.

It will be assumed that the apparatus is in its inactive or unsetposition. The springs E and H are expanded and piston B is in projectedposition, point l of said piston lying to 011e side of ball D whilepoint 2 of piston F lies to the other side of said ball. In order to setsaid apparatus, the handle L is pushed right in, then turned untilfinger N stands in front of the word Stop, on the rim or plate Z. Atthat time, spring E is compressed and held -in its position; and pin Mis at position 3 (Fig. 4) in the locking slot. Spring- H is thencompressed by fitting the fuses on cord I, and the device is then set inthe position shown in Fig. 1. The handle L is then turned so as to bringfinger N in front of the word Normal and the locking pin is then `at 4(Fig. 4), the apparatus being then ready for operation. The fuses usedmay be of different kinds and arranged at suitable points and connectedto a cord I which maintains spring H under compression; the operation ofeach fuse being` based on the relative displacement of two members.

In the form represented in Figs. 3 and 5,

these members consist of slidablyy connected links U and U to which cordI is attached, which are normally fastened together by a drop of solderV (Fig. 5) while in Fig. 6, they comprise a cylinder R and a piston Sconnected to the cord I. The cylinder R contains a body of solder Twhich prevents the outward movement of piston S, while the solderretains its solid state, at normal temperature, and resists thecompression. strain to which it is subjected by the tension of cord Ithrough reaction upon the cylinder and pist-on. ture, the body T meltsand fiows away through the clearances provided in the appartus, whichallows of a relative displacement of the constituent parts R and S. Theoperation of bot-h devices is substantially the same, as will beunderstood, and involves only very weak tensions on the traction cords.Moreover, by varying the composition of the body T it is possible toobtain a 'comparatively wide range of operation points. On the otherhand, the very nature of such compound renders the fire extinguisherextremely sensitive to rises of temperature and insures a high degree ofsafety in operation.

Automatic operation As a result of a rise in tempera- A from without.The point 2 lies to one side of ball D which, being released, is thrownout of groove C by the release of spring E. This movement involves thatof piston B which exerts on the cord a pull by which. the fireextinguisher is made to operate.

Dif/'ect hand control The apparatus being in the position shown in Fig.l, the pin M which stood in front of the word Normal merely has to bebrought in front of the word Start. The result of such displacement ofpiston B' is to bring the flat portion K thereof in registering relationto ball D, so that said piston is free to move backwards under theaction of spring E without involving the displacement of ball D.

In the above considerations it has been shown that the melting point ofthe fuses depends on:

(l) The composition,

(2 Thetemperature,

(3) The strain to which they are subelements F. At a is the controldevice, and is another fixed point of the arrangement where the lineterminates in a tightener c.

If, by construction, points L and b are invariable in their positions,it is merely necessary rto give proper tension to cord d; as the pointsof reaction aand Z) are lixed, the tension of the cord will remainconstant.

If the position of these points happens to vary, the result will be atightening or a slackening of the cord, andthe melting point of the fusewill be varied accordingly within wide limits. y

In practice, and particularly in arrangements on board flying machines,or in connection with any other power system provided with a .propellingmember, it is not possible to obtain a constant tension of the cord onaccount of the deformation of the whole system resulting from externalreactions.

According to this invention, a remote con- `trolling means connectingall the fuses together has thus been provided which maintains a constantpull on the latter.

Fig. 9 shows, by way of example, an embodiment of one such means. Itcomprises .a number of rigid brackets e adapted to receive fuses'F. Oneof these brackets is located at the end of the fuse line and is providedwith a tightener c.

At the other end the line leads to a bracket f which receives thecontrol device L. Thel connection between the various fuses is providedby means of a cord leading from a to c and slidable between the bracketswithin a 4. In the construction shown in 8, which is designed for use onboard an airplane, the points a and b maybe moved with respect toeachother without varying the tension of the cord wit-hin the sheath.-The pull of the cord is applied to points a and b whereof theinterconnection providing for the reaction of the system is obtained inthe following manner (see Fig. 9)

' From 1 to 2 through the outer sheath; from D 2 to 3 through thebracket; from 3 to 4 through the outer sheath from 4 to 5 through thebracket; from 5 to 6 through the outer sheath; from 6 to 7 through thebracket.

It follows that the brackets may be displacedwith respect to one anotherwithout thereby altering the tension of the cord.

In Fig. 8, z. is the engine, 'i the dash-board, y' another device to beprotected, for example, a gasoline pump. Between 1l and 12 theconnection is provided by the cord. within its From 13 to lli the cordis once more found' in its sheath and at y' the arrangement likewisecomprises a fuse if" and the tightener c. As a result of thatarrangement the position of such devices as i, l1., j may vary under theinfluence of external reaction without bringing about any disturbance inthe satisfactory operation of the warning means.

Where the tension of the cord must be regulated very closely, the arranement comprises a dynamometer 1', shown in 1 ig. 9 in the rst bracket.

I lclaim as my invention:

1. A device for controlling the operation of lire extinguishers or otherobjects to be operated, comprising a housing embodying juxtaposed mainand auxiliary compartments having an opening connecting them; a ballmovable in either direction through saidopening; a member slidable inthe main compartment and formed with a circumferential groove tonormally receive the ball and be. locked thereby against endwisemovement, said member adapted to be operatively connected to the objectto be operated; an operating spring acting axially on one end of saidmember to operate said object; a member slidable in the auxiliarycompartment and formed With a depression to receive the ball when thelatter moves thereinto through said opening; a spring tending to movesaid member into a position whereby the depression receives the ball; afuse; a flexible connection between the fuse and the secondnamed slidingmember to hold that member against the action of its spring, saidsecondnamed member being released by the melting of the fuse permittingthe consequent movement of the ball into said depression, thereby torelease the first-named member and operate the object connected to thesame; and means for indicating the melting of the fuse.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the means for indicating themelting of the fuse comprises a normally-concealed member which isbrought automatically into visible position by the movement of themember slidable in the auxiliary compartment consei quent upon themelting of the fuse.

3. A device for controlling the operation of tire extinguishers or otherobjects to be operated, comprising a housing embodying juxtaposed mainand auxiliary compartments having an opening connecting them; a. ballmovable in either direction through said opening; a member slidable inthe main compartment and formed with a circumferential groove tonormally receive the ball and be locked thereby against endwisemovement, said member adapted to be operatively connected to the objectto be operated; an

operating spring acting on said member; a spring-actuated member endable1n the auxiliary compartment and formed with a depression to receivevthe ball when the latter moves thereinto through said opening; aflexible fuse line connected Withrthe secondnamed sliding member andhaving a plurality of separate fuses included therein at points whichare displaceable With respect to,

the same.

JEAN MARTIN.

